#LostOnPurpose: Unplugged in Venice

After leaving Cinque Terre, we headed back east to Florence for a few more days and then onwards to Venice. As I've mentioned before, I've been working remotely during this trip - with mornings free to explore wherever we are and afternoons dedicated to being productive. The latter obviously depends on having a reliable internet connection -- which as it turns out we did not end up having in Venice. Chas "accidentally" booked us in an Airbnb that didn't have wi-fi. It seems like an impossible oversight but we had no choice but to make the best of the situation. So instead of scrambling to find a coffee shop or library where I could work from, I decided to play hooky. Oops. But honestly, who wouldn't skip work for a day in order to explore Venice?

Being without internet for two days helped remind us to live in the moment. To not worry about what was happening on social media or elsewhere in the world, and focus on enjoying the time we had together in this beautiful place. Of course, it made a few things more difficult - like deciding where to eat and figuring out the best way to get around. It was definitely frustrating at times because we're just so used to being able to do everything from our phones, but it also made us appreciate how easy things are now thanks to the world wide web. It's completely changed the way the world works and the way people travel. Chas' parents had visited Venice back in the early 80s, when the internet was still in its conceptual infancy. So much has changed since then. So much is different about the way we travel. But the beauty and the awe that it inspires is something that remains the same. And that is something that will hopefully always remain untouched even as technology continues to evolve.

Have you 'unplugged' during your travels? How did it make you feel? Share your thoughts and experiences with us and others in the comments below!